Music’s big night Grammys 2021 lived up to its glorious standards and had its share of big moments. Hosted by South African stand-up Trevor Noah of “The Daily Show” fame, the 63rd annual music awards ceremony had Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, and various chart-busters lighting up the night. But the soaring celebrations were a little muted, in keeping with the sobering reality of the pandemic. The show in the downtown of Los Angeles was naturally a little low-keyed, following socially distant norms throughout the ceremony.
The Big Winners Of Grammys 2021
All eyes were naturally on the major four categories. All four awards went to women even as Beyoncé made Grammy history. The Album of the Year went to pop & country music superstar, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish danced her way to Record of the Year. The Song of the Year went to American singer and songwriter, Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, better known professionally as H.E.R (an acronym for Having Everything Revealed, pronounced “her”), and finally, Beyonce garnered the spotlight by winning the 28th Grammy of her glittering career.
Catching Up On The Memorable Moments Of Grammy 2021
The host of the show was a superstar like any other. The most successful comedian from Africa, the South African hosted the show in an outdoor pavilion near the Los Angeles Convention Center. He accepted the realities of hosting the show in a pandemic year and delivered inimitable monologues on other trending events.
He dead-panned that they were at a live event, not a video conference meeting, where you could expect an uncle to streak across the screen. He had to refer to the infamous attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, saying the Grammys came only second to it. The crowd, if you may call it so, was small, seated at socially distanced cocktail-style seating arrangements with masked attendees. There was the expected dig at the trouble brewing in the British royalty.
Kicking of the Grammys 2021 with Billie Eilish
Styles, dressed in black sang from his second album, “Fine Line.” The star sang “Watermelon Sugar ” included on the album’s second track – a horn and guitar-driven rock, funk-pop, and indie-pop song. He cornered the prestigious best solo pop performance for the single.
Billie Eilish, in a charming head-piece, delivered a riveting performance on Grammys 2021 night with a haunting rendition of her song “Everything I Wanted.” On Sunday night, she was accompanied by her brother Finneas on stage. She performed, perched on a car that seemed partially sunk. It was a tribute to “Everything I Wanted” featuring the brother-sister duo in a Dodge Challenger.
The Best New Artist Goes To Rapper Megan Thee Stallion
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion had a memorable night. She took home her first two awards at Grammys 2021, the first for the best new artist. The latter she won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “Savage Remix” alongside Beyoncé. She became the first rapper (female) since 1999 when Lauryn Hill won for Best New Artist. Her final rendition of “Body” and “Savage” with accompanying tap dancers had the old world Hollywood touch. She ended with Cardi B with their super hit “WAP.” It was a slightly watered-down adaptation of the hit, performed on a stage set that resembled a giant bed. They went live with this for the first time. She was teary-eyed at her acceptance speech.
An Unforgettable Medley From Taylor Swift
The super talented pop and country music singer-songwriter, Taylor Alison Swift, made history at Grammys 2021 night by becoming the first-ever female artist to win album of the year thrice. She had previously won for “Fearless” in 2010 and “1989” in 2016.
Swift whisked us away into a fairy world as she sang a magical medley from her “Folklore” and “Evermore” Albums. Swift performed “Cardigan”, “Willow”, and “August” alongside collaborators The National’s Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. The set was straight out of a fairy tale with a moss-covered hillside, towering forests, and a rustic cabin.
“Folklore” debuted last July and cornered five of her six nominations on Grammys night. She got the sixth for the hymn-like “Beautiful Ghosts,” written for “Cats,” the musical.
Remembering The Legends At Grammys 2021
As always, the awards remembered artists who left us in 2021 in a touching tribute. Silk Sonic duo Brandon Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars paid homage to Little Richard, the legendary rock king, with the song “Leave the Door Open.” Their dreamy and dazzling performance was in a matched maroon suit reminiscent of the 70s.
Lionel Richie paid tribute to country star Kenny Rogers. John Edward Prine, eminent singer-songwriter, was remembered by Brandi Carlile. Brittany Howard with Chris Martin, Coldplay frontman on the piano ended the tributes with a tearjerker rendition “you will never walk alone.”
The Song Of The Year At Grammys 2021 for H.E.R.
The song of the year recognizes writers rather than performers and this year’s win marked the Black Lives Matter protests that engulfed America last summer. She won the award together with her co-writers Tiara Thomas and Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II. H.E.R. implored people to keep the energy of the summer of 2020 at the acceptance speech. She spoke about her fear and pain and was positive about the impact it had created and the possibility of change.
The Grammys 2021 Sees A Long-Standing Record
It was the 28th Grammy for “Queen Bey” at the Grammys 2021. Beyonce surpassed Alison Krauss, bluegrass musician to stand up there as the most awarded female artist in the award’s history.
The win was for “Black Parade” which won for best R&B routine, released last year. It drew commendation for its commanding lyrics and reference to black activism and history. She has been performing since she was 9.
“As an artist, I believe it’s for me to reflect the times, and it’s been “such a difficult time,” she said as she collected the award. The legendary American singer, songwriter, actress, director, record producer, and beyond all, the humanitarian, wants to encourage, uplift, and celebrate all the “beautiful black queens and kings” who carry on inspiring her and the world.
The Marquee Awards At The Grammys 2021 Are Cornered By Swift And Eilish
Taylor Swift became the first woman to ever win thrice. She beat off competition from Dua Lipa, Haim, Coldplay, rapper Post Malone to pick up her award. The final moments belonged to Billie Eilish as she won for her “Everything I Wanted” ( record of the year). She dedicated the win to Megan Thee Stallion. At the awards, Harvey Mason Jr asked stars to work together in creating a Recording Academy that the music industry and all its members can be proud of.
The grand night of the Grammys 2021 was most not only historic but notably an unforgettable one.
